KELSEY TIDBALL (She/Her/Hers)
Marketing and Development Assistant
Kelsey, who was born and raised in Oregon, has been happily calling Boston her home for the past few years. She is a recent graduate from Emerson College, with an MA in Theatre Education and an MFA in Applied Theatre and Performance. She also holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Communications and Theatre Arts from the University of Oregon. Kelsey has worked as an actor, a writer, an event coordinator and an educator and she is thrilled to now be working at Rehearsal for Life, delving deeper into her passion for theater and its potential to change the world. Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys tending to her many house plants, performing in the Boston theater scene, and feeding her friends and family gourmet meals.
KRISTEN SHERMAN (She/Her/Hers)
Head of Development and Finance
Kristen oversees philanthropy, marketing, and administration for Rehearsal for Life. Kristen studied Art History at UMass Amherst and received her MBA from Endicott College, and has worked in museums, public parks, education, and nonprofit foundations in Boston and NYC. A daily dose of art continues to be a connective thread in both her professional and personal life, and Kristen believes the arts are an important tool, and can serve as a lens to interpret current events. She is proud to work at Rehearsal for Life, where kids in every zip code are able to use the skills taught in our SEL and arts programming. Outside of work, you can find Kristen cheering on the Celtics, knitting, and birdwatching (though never all at once).
MARY TORPEY
Head of Program & Creative Director
Mary has been a director, teaching artist and creative collaborator in the Boston area for many years. She joined Rehearsal for Life in 2003 as assistant director with Freelance Players and teaching artist with Urban Improv and has been directing Freelance Players troupes since 2011. She is endlessly motivated by the collaborative, inclusive and expressive work she sees in the young artists and her colleagues. Originally from Maine, Mary graduated from Indiana University with a B.A in Theater and Drama and studied movement, voice and acting at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.
IJ CHAN (She/Her/Hers)
Teaching Artist
IJ is a dance artist and educator born, raised and based in Boston. She graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. in Dance and Journalism and has dedicated her life to training and performing in multiple dance genres for international dance masters. In her own choreographic work, IJ is interested in exploring the Asian-American narrative. She is committed to bringing quality arts instruction to low-income and minority youth populations within Boston, and Rehearsal for Life helps her accomplish this mission daily, while encouraging youth to be more empathetic and socially aware. In her free time, IJ also works as a freelance graphic designer and visual artist, with a focus on creating marketing materials for other dance artists in the community.
MICHAEL CASEY (He/Him/His)
Teaching Artist
Michael, born and raised in Boston, has studied theater for over a decade at Boston Arts Academy, Bunker Hill Community College and Suffolk University. He teaches theater at the Charles River Creative Arts Program in the summers and assistant directs the Newton Freelance Players Troupe. Theater and Education are Michael’s biggest passions in life, and Rehearsal for Life has been a dream job, helping him realize his goals of teaching life skills through the power of theater. Michael is also currently a preschool teacher at the Shattuck Child Daycare Center. In his free time, Michael enjoys writing poetry and is a huge fan of pro wrestling.
COOPER EVELLO (He/Him/His)
Teaching Artist
Cooper studied music production and composition at the Cambridge School of Weston, Hampshire College, and the Berklee School of Music, and joined Rehearsal for Life with a background in music production, performance, arranging and composition. His work with Rehearsal for Life, allows him the opportunity to create music that helps make Boston youth’s time in school a little better and helps them process their feelings and struggles. Outside of work, Cooper can be found composing and recording music in his home studio, and performing around New England in his bands (ADDIE, Bog Berries, Hush Club, and Naomi Westwater).
KELSEY TIDBALL (She/Her/Hers)
Marketing and Development Assistant
Kelsey, who was born and raised in Oregon, has been happily calling Boston her home for the past few years. She is a recent graduate from Emerson College, with an MA in Theatre Education and an MFA in Applied Theatre and Performance. She also holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Communications and Theatre Arts from the University of Oregon. Kelsey has worked as an actor, a writer, an event coordinator and an educator and she is thrilled to now be working at Rehearsal for Life, delving deeper into her passion for theater and its potential to change the world. Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys tending to her many house plants, performing in the Boston theater scene, and feeding her friends and family gourmet meals.
IJ CHAN (She/Her/Hers)
Teaching Artist
IJ is a dance artist and educator born, raised and based in Boston. She graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. in Dance and Journalism and has dedicated her life to training and performing in multiple dance genres for international dance masters. In her own choreographic work, IJ is interested in exploring the Asian-American narrative. She is committed to bringing quality arts instruction to low-income and minority youth populations within Boston, and Rehearsal for Life helps her accomplish this mission daily, while encouraging youth to be more empathetic and socially aware. In her free time, IJ also works as a freelance graphic designer and visual artist, with a focus on creating marketing materials for other dance artists in the community.
COOPER EVELLO (He/Him/His)
Teaching Artist
Cooper studied music production and composition at the Cambridge School of Weston, Hampshire College, and the Berklee School of Music, and joined Rehearsal for Life with a background in music production, performance, arranging and composition. His work with Rehearsal for Life, allows him the opportunity to create music that helps make Boston youth’s time in school a little better and helps them process their feelings and struggles. Outside of work, Cooper can be found composing and recording music in his home studio, and performing around New England in his bands (ADDIE, Bog Berries, Hush Club, and Naomi Westwater).
MICHAEL CASEY (He/Him/His)
Teaching Artist
Michael, born and raised in Boston, has studied theater for over a decade at Boston Arts Academy, Bunker Hill Community College and Suffolk University. He teaches theater at the Charles River Creative Arts Program in the summers and assistant directs the Newton Freelance Players Troupe. Theater and Education are Michael’s biggest passions in life, and Rehearsal for Life has been a dream job, helping him realize his goals of teaching life skills through the power of theater. Michael is also currently a preschool teacher at the Shattuck Child Daycare Center. In his free time, Michael enjoys writing poetry and is a huge fan of pro wrestling.